May 6, 2001
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas softball team downed the Kentucky Wildcats 1-0 Sunday afternoon at the Lady `Back Yard in the final regular season game for both squads.
Lady Razorback ace Heather Schlictman combined with Rachel Talley to shut out the Cats for the second time in as many days. Schlictman scattered five hits through the first six innings, but was forced to leave the game after delivering one pitch in the top of the seventh inning because the Arkansas coaching staff failed to officially notify the umpire of her re-entry after Stephanie Hunter pinch hit for Schlictman in the sixth inning.
Both teams threatened in the opening frame but came up empty. Leslie Kwiatkowski led off the game with a double to left center that tied a school record for doubles in a season, but was stranded at second as Nikki Jones fouled out to Wooley at third, Angus grounded out to third, and Tiffany Kruse struck out.
The Lady Razorbacks loaded the bases in the home first inning with two outs on two singles and a walk issued by UK starter Monique Lovell. UA’s Erin Stokey connected on a drive to right center that Kwiatkowski flagged down for the third out.
Arkansas (34-28, 14-16 SEC) broke through for the only run of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Tiffany Wooley drilled a one-out shot back up the middle that ricocheted off Lovell. UK shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo scooped up the ball but was unable to get Wooley at first. Wooley stole second base as Schlictman struck out swinging for the second out, and scored as leadoff hitter Julie Young singled to left field.
The Wildcats (27-32, 10-18 SEC) threatened in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings, but were unable to push the tying run across the plate as UK stranded nine runners over the seven innings.
Dal Pozzo led off the fourth with a single back up the middle. Kruse followed with a bunt that Schlictman could not handle to put runners on first and second with no outs. The Lady Razorbacks worked out of trouble when Andy Eilertson flied out to right, Friberg grounded out to third, and Lovell was called out on strikes.
Dal Pozzo led off the Kentucky sixth inning with a double over UA left-fielder Young, but was stranded at second as Kruse struck out, and Eilertson and Friberg both grounded out to the left side of the infield.
Lovell led off the seventh by drawing a walk from reliever Rachel Talley, but was erased as Kwiatkowski hit into a fielder’s choice for the second out. Jones then beat out a single to shortstop to put the tying run at second base, but Angus hit into a fielder’s choice at second for the last out of the game.
Dal Pozzo was 2-2 on the day, with a double and a walk. Jones tallied three singles to up her latest hitting streak to seven games. Freshman hurler Monique Lovell went the distance for the Wildcats, giving up only one run, but took the loss, dropping to 5-6 on the season.
The Cats travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., Thursday, May 10 to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
R H EKentucky 000 000 00 6 1Arkansas 010 000 X1 7 1
WP- Schlictman (24-12) and Howlett , LP- Lovell (5-6) and Angus,2B- Kwiatkowski, Dal Pozzo, SH- Howlett, Eiben, Wooley, SB- Wooley, Dal Pozzo.Records- UK (27-32, 10-18 SEC), UA (34-28, 14-16)
